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The philosophy underlying the Haj
By A. Abdul Aziz
There are five main acts that are performed during Haj, namely:
1. Circuiting the Ka'aba
2. Running between the Safa and Marwa hills
3. Assembling at Arafa.
4. Throwing stones at Mina
5. Sacrificing animals

How do these acts assist in obtaining spiritual purity? The performance of Haj without having understood the values and meanings of its rituals would be a waste. Hence it is obligatory that we take a look at the philosophy underlying the Haj.

Circuiting the Ka'aba
The first ritual is Tawaf. Right from the day a Haji enters Mecca upto the last day of Tawaf, he performs the circuit of the Ka'aba. He does exactly seven circuits each time. What do these seven circuits symbolize?

The Ka'aba is the spiritual sanctuary of mankind, which is therefore the direction adopted by Islam for prayers. In other words, the Ka'aba is the physical representation of the spiritual distinction aimed at; which is an abode described to be in the seventh heaven. The Holy Quran states:

"...Vasakkalil Mahfool..." It is a very lofty and blessed platform. It is on this platform that the most Sacred House is situated, where the Holy Prophet (PBUH), during his spiritual journey, led the rest of the prophets in prayer. The seven heavens mentioned here are not the physical heavens above us, nor is the Bait, a house indeed. These are but spiritual demarcations representing progress. In such a spiritual world, when a person shows willingness to sacrifice his entity, he attains a sort of death and is reborn in the next spiritual world. It is at the seventh heaven of such sacrifices that he becomes eligible to be accepted as qualifying to vouch for Islam as did the Prophet Ebrahim (a.s). Therefore the seven circuits of the Ka'aba represent the willingness of the Haji to selfless sacrifice for the sake of mankind and religion along the lines of the sacrifice Prophet Ebrahim (a.s)

Running between the Safa and Marwa hills
The next ritual is the Sa'i, which is the running in between the two hills Safa and Marwa. The Holy Quran says: "Surely Al-Safa and Al-Marwah are among the signs of Allah". (2:159) Why do the Hajis run between these two hills? The usual explanation offered to this is that it is in remembrance of the experiences of Hajara while she was stranded in the desert with an infant, and had no means of support. Her frantic search for water is commemorated by the sa'i.

However, this theory offers no explanation as to how this memory would benefit the Haji spiritually. Allah the Almighty has declared that this place has been witness and recipient to many of Allah's blessings. Safa is the hill upon which Hazrath Adam (a.s) received his Prophethood. The hill received its name, which means pure, because of this. Hazrath Ebrahim (a.s), Hazrath Ismail (a.s) and Hazrath Muhammad (PBUH) all initiated their Prophethood at the foot of this hill.

This is the valley where water that would slake the spiritual thirst of the world that was to come, first erupted to the surface. This was the valley at which the first person to declare having accepted the Prophethood of Hazrath Muhammed (PBUH) stood forth. This is therefore the valley where the Hajis run to and from in search of that spiritual water. It is for this water which could sate their thirst for knowledge, and with the knowledge being put to practice thus purify one's body and soul.

Assembling at Arafa
The next is the most important ritual of the Haj, assembling at Arafa on the 9th day of Zul Haj, the eve of Eid-ul-Azha. As was explained above, the declaration and propagation of Islam commenced at Safa; and its conclusive consummation was at Arafa on the 9th day of Zul Haj, the 9th year of Hijra. That day, Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) addressed more than a hundred thousand believers, while delivering the famous speech, which is known as "Hajjatul Vida" sermon. Every aspect of a believer's code of conduct, the way he should behave with his family, with his parents, with his children, with his neighbours, with travellers, was addressed in the sermon.

It is therefore the duty of the Hajis to commemorate the advice that the Holy Prophet had delivered on that auspicious day, and make a change in their life that they become living examples of the life of Prophet Muhammed (PBUH). This is the philosophy behind assembling at the Arafa on that day. And this is the ritual that differentiates Haj from Umra.

Throwing stones at Mina
After the Arafa, comes the throwing of stones and the sacrifice. Stones are thrown at three places. The Hajis stop for the night at Muzdalifah and from there proceed on the next day to the three places, viz. Jumrat'al Ula, Jumrat'al Usta, and Jumrat'al Akaba where they throw 7 stones each. It is explained that the stones are aimed at Satan, who tried to dissuade Prophet Ebrahim (a.s) from offering his son as sacrifice. But when asked as to how the stones are being thrown at Mina while the sacrifice was intended at Arafa, they have no answer. Again, questions arise as to how this serves to develop one's spirituality.

The Holy Quran states: "Fair seeming to men is made the love of desired things - women and children, and stored up heaps of gold and silver, and horses of mark and cattle and crops. That is the provision of the present life; but it is Allah with who is an excellent home." (3:15)

"Say, shall I inform you of something better than that? For those who fear God there are gardens with their lord, beneath which streams flow; therein they shall abide; and pure mates and Allah's pleasure. And Allah is mindful of his servants." (3:16)

The above verses teach us that man has seven relations to the earth. They are his love for his mate, for his children, for heaps of gold (ornamental wealth), for heaps of silver (money, for horses (vehicles) and cattle (business) and crops (agriculture).

Allah points out these relationships and states that these are but provisions for this petty life, and it is with Him that the excellent home is. In order to obtain His love, the Haji shows his willingness to sever his ties with worldly bonds which number seven by throwing seven pieces of the earth, which symbolize the seven bonds away from him. Each stone thus represents each tie the Haji has with the earth. Throwing them away, he says aloud "Labaik Allahumma Labaik" "Labaik La Shareika Laka Labaik" (Here I am, my Lord, here I am. Here I am, There is no associate with Thee.)

Sacrificing animals
The last ritual is the sacrifice of animal. The Holy Quran says:
"Their flesh reaches not Allah, nor does their blood, but it is your righteousness that reaches Him." (22:38) The sacrifice is the practical consummation of all the intentions that have been built up in him through the rituals that preceded it. He shows his willingness to be sacrificed; to shed his blood for the sake of God, as is shed the blood of the sacrificed animal. Life, which is considered dear, is sacrificed for the sake of others.

The Haji emerges out of the rituals of Haj, as a new man. It is pointing to this state that Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) said: "A Haji who performs the Haj in its fullest sense emerges out of it, as though he was a newborn infant. Pure and perfect." A person who has the blessing of thus understanding the inner meanings of Haj and being able to perform it in its fullest sense, is a person blessed by Allah indeed. May Allah Almighty bless us all with this sort of a Haj.

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